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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Black Omega" data-source="post: 602703" data-attributes="member: 79">Making sure the prisoners were both tightly bound and unconscious, the group made their way out into the city again, but happily it wasn’t as bad as they had feared.  The fires were minor and under control, and a number of samurai were patrolling the streets.  Checking in, they found Shinjo Yuji had taken their warnings to heart and only taken a few samurai out looking, leaving the rest on guard in Bugaisha.O-Hisa was taken to the temple for healing and for help countering the drugs.  Also brought along was the white haired ninja, who was very tightly bound and sealed into a magically protected room, after her ninja outfit was removed and a standard, plain monk outfit was provided.  Without the mask, she was revealed to be a lovely woman with delicate, aristocratic features.“Why did we keep her alive, exactly?”  Kaz wondered aloud as he looked in on the girl.“She as important to the Bloodspeakers.  She might be able to answer our questions.”  Volar said while peeking in as well.“Her katana is magnificent.  Look at these markings.  This is something very special.  We might be able to trace it.”  Verick murmured “I’d better show it to my sensei as well.”The group went in to confront the girl, who faced them impassively.“What’s your name.”  Volar was the first to speak ‘Who are you?”“I have no name.”  She shook her head as she saw the dubious look on Volar’s face “I’m serious.  I have no name.  No form.  I’m simply a shadow, a reflection of my master’s will.”Volar and the others from the west were intrigued by this but to Toshiro, Kaz and Yukiyo it meant something more.  A little over 25 years ago the Empire had been nearly destroyed by a force called the Lying Darkness.  The Lying Darkness represented oblivion, it’s goal was to destroy the past, to wipe the slate totally clean and start over.  Those who fell to the Lying Darkness didn’t die, instead they lost their names, their identity, even their faces.   The Lying Darkness had been defeated at the Battle of Oblivion’s Gate, and was destroyed.  But it’s minions were simply scattered.The girl went on to explain her task had been to serve Iuchi Nagatori.  The dead Bloodspeaker had been the last of a faction who still strongly supported the old ways.  Shahai and her followers had nearly destroyed them before Toshiro and the others had finished them off by killing Nagatori.  Before that, Mir and Toshiro had been used as distractions.  She was firm she didn’t want Toshiro to be the one sacrificed.  And Nagatori had been concerned Mir was too ‘foreign’.  It would have been very bad to find out in mid-sacrifice that an Aasimar was not suitable.Hesitantly, Toshiro finally asked what had been on his mind for some time now.  “Why have you been so interested in me?”“I admire you.”  The white haired lady said simply.  The others looked to Toshiro, not to most handsome samurai around.  But she went on “I can look however I wish.  Why should I care about appearances?  He’s honorable.  His soul shines.”Volar got things back on track “Why should we leave you alive?”“I expected you to kill me.”  The ninja replied, looking over each of the group.  “We do not have free will.  When my Master orders, I will obey.  There is no promise I can make you can trust.”  She said sadly “When his will moves me, I simply do whatever I am ordered.”“Do you –want- to be killed?  We need better than that.”  Mir asked, frowning a little.“I…”  the woman paused to think on the question, her eyes lowering for the first time “I’m not sure.  For someone like Toshiro there is no fear of death.  His ancestors watch over him.  When  he dies, he will go to the realm of Blessed Ancestors.  When I was…”  the white haired woman shudders for a moment “I do not have that link.  I have no name.  I’m...not sure what will happen to me.  I’m afraid.”  She admitted in a quiet voice.“Just swear to me you’ll do your best not to escape.  We’ll find your name, who you are.  Perhaps your identity can be restored.”  Toshiro stepped in suddenly.  “We will find a way.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“Are you sure you know what you are doing??”  Verick asked in the hallway.“She’s trying to be honorable.  She said she would stay.  I trust she’ll do her best.”  Toshiro replied firmly “And that is that.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The group was called in to see Shinjo Yuji later that day.  Though he commented briefly on the battle at the grove to the south, he was mainly there to thank the group.  He’d thought long and hard on their words.  And perhaps he had over reacted previously by planning to take so many samurai out of Bugaisha.  Though it was not spoken, it was plain by his words he felt he owed Toshiro, Volar and the others.He also brought word he was promoting Toritaka Kazuyuki to Nikutai, a patrol leader responsible for 10 men.[DM Note:  There was also much teasing of Toshiro going on OOC.  ‘See, he was promoted and not you!’  Toshiro would have been promoted as well but his twitchy behavior prior to this, mainly fleeing from the ambush earlier’ had left a stain his heroic stand against the Bloodspeakers had not yet erased.]Taking Kaz and Toshiro aside, Yuji had another question to put to them.  He was considering the fate of Kuroiyuki.  The Temple of the Seven Fortunes, where he had served as a monk, had already been consulted.  Kaz and Toshiro were both reluctant to say what should be done with him, but they agreed he had followed some bad advice from someone he trusted, and who had deceived many more than just Kuroiyuki.  His heart’s in the right place and everyone deserves a second chance.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The group had a couple of days to rest and recover before they were ready to get back to their routine.  Early that morning they had another visitor.  With closely cropped hair and simple peasant garb, Kuroiyuki had unexpectedly stopped by to visit.“I’ve been banished from Bugaisha.”  He said with surprisingly cheerfulness.  ‘But I have permission to finish a few things before I go.  Toshiro, Kaz, my humble thanks.  I have mistakes to make up for.  And now I’ll have a chance to make it all right.  And…just one other thing.  I’ve been trying to find the young lady I knocked out at the teahouse and make sure she was ok.  But no one seems to know who she was.  I thought perhaps one of you might…”Toshiro nodded “She’s right here.  Yukiyo was in disguise at the teahouse.”Kuroiyuki bowed down deeply to Yukiyo, touching his forehead to the floor before he said “I’m deeply sorry for attacking you.  It was quite inexcusable and I hope you’ll give me a chance to make it up to you.”Without a word, Yukiyo got up and walked out of the room.Kuroiyuki sighed “Well, I thought it was important to try.”“So, what are you going to do now?”  Mir asked.“I hope to find someplace where I can start up Fubuki-tai again.”  He saw the looks on the others faces and bowed quickly “It’s not like that.  Fubuki-tai was used by the Bloodspeakers, but the idea was good!  Fubuki-tai could stand for something great.  Courage, compassion, style, brotherhood, and posing!”“I’m not sure that’s a good idea…”  Toshiro began.Then Verick cut in “You try to bring back Fubuki-tai and I’ll kill you.”  The young man red faced, vein pulsing in his forehead.  Kuroiyuki looked about to say something further but Verick lifted his finger “Ah!  Not a word.  You bring back Fubuki-tai and I’ll kill you.  That’s NOT happening.”Kuroiyuki looked crestfallen, but Mir said softly “I have another idea.  My grove is just now settling into shape, a shrine to the Oak Father.  I’ve been thinking about recruiting people to look after the shrine.  If you are looking for a purpose, we should talk.”Mir gave directions to her grove and Kuroiyuki promised to visit her.  As Kuroiyuki prepared to leave, Volar followed him out for a last word.  He looked around for a moment but Yukiyo was no where in sight.  But that was no guarantee the stealthy young woman wasn’t there.  “I just thought I’d wish you good luck.  And one small piece of advice.  In the west, someone joining a temple like this would be expected to not only serve the priestess in normal ways but also to warm her bed.  Thought I’d let you know just so you don’t accidentally give offense.”  Before the stunned young man would say anything more, Volar finished by casting a ‘blessing’ that turned Kuroiyuki invisible.  And so unseen Kuroiyuki walked off into the sunset.Which was a shame since he’d meant to head east.</blockquote>

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